Case shift mechanism



March 15, 1960 A. F. LINDBERG CASE! SHIFT MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 27, 1957 INVENTOR ARTHUR F. LINDBERG March 15, 1960 A. F. LINDBERG CASE SHIFT MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 27, 1957 INVENTOR ARTHUR F. LINDBERG BY W March 15, 1960 A. F. LINDBERG 2,928,467

CASE SHIFT MECHANISM Filed Dec. 27, 1957 s Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR ARTHUR F. LINDBERG BY QQ ATTORN messes"PM CASE SHIFT MECHANISM Arthur F. Lindherg, Chicago, 111., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Fairchild Camera & Instrument Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application December 27, 1957, Serial No. 705,579

12 Claims. (Cl. 164-112) mechanism for the manually operated shift device disclosed in said patent. Moreover, the arrangement according to the present invention is particularly related to the shifting of the counting code blade selector unit disclosed in co-pending application Serial No. 705,558, filed December 27, 1957 by A. F. Lindberg.

Briefly, the apparatus according to the present invention, like that shown in said patent, is'provided'with a keyboard including a series of keylevers each of which performs the function of controlling a permutation selector mechanism of a perforating mechanism, and which, through a push bar' mechanism individual to each key, are arranged to control counting code elements contained in removable code bar units. Also, similar to'the structure of said patent, the coded elements of each codebar'unit are arranged to control a plurality of counting vanes.

As in said patent, the counting vanes control,'in turn,

a differential accumulator to actuate an'indicating dc.- vice. Thus, according to the present invention, means is provided for shifting the counting code blade selector 2 46 and'the push bar pivot 47. The unit 41 is slidably supported on the universal blade shaft 53, and through rollers 54, on a track 55 to effectuate the shifting operation described herein. As disclosed in said co-pending application, each push bar 42 is operatively associated with two rows of code elements 38, so that as a result of the shifting operation, hereinafter-described, the push bar 42 is presented in alignment with either one or the other of the two rows of elements 38. To facilitate the operation of the push bar mechanisms in both the shift and unshift positions of the unit 41, the top portion 'of the depressing rods 43 are widened so-that they will each be depressed by their respective keylever 23in either of the two case positions. The shift in the position of the unit 41 carrying the push bar assemblies is done by the shift device,indicated generally as 61 in Figs. 1. to 4, which device is placed directly under the unit 41 and' utilizes a power take-off vane 62 from the universal blade shaft 53 and is conditioned (by depressing one of'the shift keylevers) to do the required shifting before the depressed keylever trips the control clutch, initiating the shift cycle.

The shift mechanism 61 is mounted in its entirety, except for a link 63 connecting itwith the push bar mecha nism unit 41, on a shift mechanism mounting plate 64 which is secured in a horizontal plane by means of screws 6Sto member 55. The shifting device may be considered as consisting of two units; namely, a shift mechanism and a shift control mechanism. The shift mechanism, mounted to the-top side of the shift mechanism plate 64 comprises a shift cam element 66, pivotally mounted by means ofa screw and bushing arrangement 67 to the unit disclosed in said. co-pending, application from its lower case to upper case positionsand vice versa by a power operated shift device under the control of th shift and unshift keylevers, respectively.

A more comprehensive understanding of the present invention may be had from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the shift mechanism according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the shift mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the shift mechanism; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are bottom views of a modification of the shift mechanismunder two conditions of operation...

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the shift mechanism. according to the invention, is shown as associated with the operatively related elements of the apparatus disclosed in said co-pending application. For example, keylevers 23 are analogous to the keylevers 23 of s id (to-pending application. Similarly, the counting code blade selector unit 41 is analogous to the unit 41 of said co-nending apj plate 64. Two follower roller arms 68 and 69 (Fig. 3), pivoted at 71 and-'72, respectively, on plate 64, are biased toward each other by a spring 73 tending to hold the cam follower rollers 75 and 76 against the two diametrically opposed cam surfaces 77 and 78 of the shift cam 66. The link extension 63 in articulation to the follower arm 69 through the center of the follower roller 76 moves with the roller 76 as the roller 76 follows its associated cam contour 78. A link 79 is mounted in slidable assembly with link extension 63, and is pivotally articulated to a shift post 81 at its other end through an adju ting plate 82. The slidable connection between link '79 and its extension 63 is biased in one direction by means of the spring 83'so that the length of the link assembly 6379 is yieldable in compression but rigid in tension.

The shift post 81.which is screwed rigidly into the right end plate 84 of the unit 41, will cause the unit 41' to move with it in accordance with the movement imparted to it by the cam follower roller 76 through the yieldable link assembly 63-49, as will'presently appear. The cam contour 78 associated with the follower roller 76 is designed to impart to its follower roller 76 a total dis placement just equal to the amount needed for shifting the alignment of the push bars 42 from one set of 'code blades 38 to the adjacent set of code blades 38. Withsuch an plication, and comprises a plurality of push bar mechamon to all pushbarmechanisms are the link pivot plate arrangement, the end dwells of the cam 78 become the elements that control the registration of the shift positions and therefore preclude the need of end position stop adjustments. The cam contour 78 is so designedfasto] control the acceleration and deceleration of the unit 41 with the result that there is no important impacting of parts one against another. The cam contour 77 associated with the follower roller is'designed, except for the end'positions of the cam 66, so that no change in extension of the spring 73 will take place during the shifting operation. By the use of this expedient, very little-of the workenergy available at the power fingers 85 of the power take-01f vane 62 will be needed to overcome the force of the spring 73. This same contour (associated with follower roller 75) is "cut with detenting drops 'dia Pat ented Mar. 1 5, 1960 metrically opposite the reg tration dwells of the opposed. 78. When the follower roller 75 drops into cam contour as ess? one of the depressions in thecam contour 77, the cam 66 a will :be :held in that. position until forcibly turned to its alternate Lposition. Stop ears 86 and 87 of cam 66 are designed :to appear as parts of the cam contours 77' and 78.,"respectively; stop ear 86 will prevent over-rotation of nheacam .inpthe clockwise direction (Fig. 3) when it abutsagainst roller 75, and stop ear 87 will prevent over; rotation of the'cam 66 in the counterclockwise directio when it abuts against roller 76. p

lower' to operate the shift cam 66 is provided by thetwo fingers 85 extending downward from the power takeoff vane 62 which is securely affixed to the universal blade shaft 53. During everyj cycle of 'operationjthe fingers .5 will be moved in a path shown by dotted lines in .Fig. 3, and return. Two pawls or interponents 88 and-89 are mounted pivotally on the shift cam 66 in such a manner as to enable the power fingers 85 to rotate the shiftlcam 66 to the shift or unshift position depending :on which pawl '88 or 89 is turnedor rotated into the path of movement of the fingers. 85. The pawls 88 and the bell crank lever 107 will push the shift control bar 97 to the right which, in turn, will effect a clockwise rota- Inthe operation ofthe device according to the present invention, if the perforator operator depresses the shift keylever 103, the'keylever rod 112 associated therewith is also depressed causing the bell cranklever 107 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 1) against the pullof its springyll i. The lower end 109 of tion, Fig. 4 (counterclockwise in Fig. 3) of the cam operating p awls 88 and'89 by reason of itsengagernent with the pawl pins 91i-and 92, to position thepawl 88 into the path of the left-hand power finger 85, and the pawl 89 out of the path of the right-hand power finger. At the 89 having been set for a particular shift position with respect to the shift cam. 66 andpowerfingers 85., as will hereinafter appear, will remain in that position until they are changed by depressing the complementary shift .key.

.. The control of thefshift mechanism centers entirely around -the operation of the cam operating 'pawls 88 and 8 9. The ends of the pawls- 8 8 and 89, opposite to the ends which cooperate engagingly with the power fingers 85, are providedwith pins 91 and 92, respectively, which extend downward, parallel with the axes of the pawl pivots, through apertures 93, and 9 4,' respectively, in the mounting plate ,64 through-slots 95 and 96,- respectively,

in .a shift control bar 97 and terminate in ends that are grooved to retain the loops of the spring 98 bywhich pins;91 and 92 are biased toward each other tending to hold said pins against the edges of their respective slots 95, and 96 in the shift control bar 97. o 7

' Thegshift control bar 97 is slidably assembled to the mounting plate 64 by means of the shoulder screws 99 so that movement to the right will cause both operating pawls 88 and 89 to turn in a clockwise direction (Fig; 4)

end of the keylever stroke, a clutch (not herein shown, but which may be of the type disclosed in Fig. 5 of US. Patent No. 2,019,505) is tripped, which permits a main cam shaft (not shown) to rotate through one operatingcycle to permit (as disclosed in said co-pending application) a spring 117 (Fig. 1) toract through a lever arm 59 (Fig. 2) :to rock the universal blade shaft 53, to cause the power fingers 85 to execute one operation, whereupon the left-hand finger, 85 impinges against pawl 88 to rotate. the-shift carn66 counterclockwise (as viewed thegperforator operator depresses the unshift key 104, the ,keylever rod 112 associated therewith is depressed causing the bell crank lever 108 to rotate in a clockwise direction: ,The 'lower end 109 of bell crank lever 108 will. push the shift control bar 97 leftwardly to effect a counterclockwise rotation, Fig. 4 (clockwise in Fig. 3.),

of. the cam operating pawls 88 and 89110 position the pawl" 89-zinto the path of the right-hand power finger 85, and the pawli88 out of the path. of the left-hand power finger.

, Upon rocking-the shaft 53 the powerfingers 85 are caused engaging pawl 88 and disengaging pawl 89 with the 7 power fingers 85. On the other hand, movement of the shift control bar 97to the left (Fig. 4) will causelboth operating pawls 88 and 89 to turn in a counterclockwise direction, thereby disengaging pawl 88 and engaging pawl 89 with the power fingersSS. The shift" control bar 97 is'provided. witha cletent 101 arranged-11o ,cof

operate. with af spring actuated id etent bell crank lever 102, so. that, the controlbar 97 will be held inlthat one of its, alternate positions resulting from the depression of, one of, the shift keys until the other of the two shift keys 103 and .104 is depressed;

' Near each end of the shift mechanism mounting plate 64 is an aperture 105 from which an ear 106 is turned upward for pivotally mounting the bell'crank levers 107 and.108 The lower ends 109 (Fig.1) of the bellcrank levers, 107 and 108arealigned to act on the tops oftthe' heads, of adjusting screws lllcarried in the ends of the control bar 97, so that upon these'lective operationofthe bell crank levers, 107 and 108, as will presently appear, the control bar 97 may be pushed into eitherof its. alternate shift control positions.

The shift keylever 103 and the unshift'keyleve nlfl i each have a rod 112 depending from a pivotal pin riveted into the rod and held in free engagement with a holein the keylever by'a retaining leafspring 113 which, is also riveted to the rod.112 The lower ends oftherods 112 are pivotally articulated to their respective bell crank levers 107 and 108.: Each of thebell cranklevers 101 to execute one-operation so that the right-hand finger 85 tmpingesagainst'pawl 89 to rotate the shift cam 66 clockwise (as viewed 'in Fig. 3.). This rotation of the shift cam 66'ca'use's thefollow'er roller 75 to be forcibly moved to the left, while the follower roller 76 merely follows its associated camcontonn 78 with the result that the ten- 7 sionin the spring 78 held constant except, of course, for the change necessary for the detenting action. This actuation *of th'e unshi'ft key; 104' movies the push bar 'meclianism unit 41%to left, unless mechanical obstructron is present, in wlhich event thespring 73 will yield to protect'the mechanism; Figs and 6 illustrate'a modified form of the shift mechanism accordingtothe present invention. If compariso n" is made-between the form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6 and the form shown in Fig. 4, it will be noted mar ne im ortant change in the shin control mechanismis that thesingl'econtrol'bar 97 (Fig. 4) has been replaced .by two controlbars 121' and 122. With this arrangement, both shift ,pawls 88 and 89 are posi- Vtioned out of the path of action of their respective power 123 and.. 12 4, respectively. Tension in spring 123 urgesand 108 is underthe'influence ofja returnspring 114/ which tends tofreturn the bell crank lever 107 .(or. 108),

the unopera't'ed position.

the keylever e 112 andithe ,xe teveri ment r wells fingers in the normally unoperated positions of the shift-.keylevers 103 and .10 1, as shown in Fig. 5. The normally unoperatedpositionsof the shift control bars 121 and 122 are maintained by their individual springs control bar 121 to the left, and spring 124 urges control bapl 22cto the right. Springposts 125- and 126 in the control bars 121 and 122,"re spectively, support springs anairzswnicn serve to yieldably hold the control pinsp 9llandi92iofithe shift pawls-8 8 and 89 againste'om sh rtl ss- 13.2 lat thsisssrel-bers time! .132. h

respectively,

3 :aFig. .6: illustrates, :the condition existing after the left hand :shift keylever 103 has been depressed and release of the perforator clutch is imminent. The control bar 121 has been moved to the right, pulling with it the pin 91 through the tension of spring 127 and thereby rotating pawl 88 clockwise into the operating path of power finger 85. It will be observed that the interposition of either shift pawl 88 or 89 into the path of its respective power finger 85 by means of its controlling shift control bar 121 or 122 will preclude engagement of the other pawl by virtue of the abutment of the edges 132 and 133 of bars 121 and 122, respectively. Thus, the accidental simultaneous operative engagement of the shift pawls 88 and 89 with the power fingers 85 is precluded. Operation of -the shift cam 66 by a power finger 85 through the medium of a shift pawl 88 or 89 is the same as described he'reinbefore.

* 'Although preferred forms of the invention have been disclosed and described, it is manifest that changes may be made in the details set forth without departing from the essentials of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a keyboard apparatus, a series of keylevers, means to be operated, a unit carrying a plurality of devices for operating said means, means for slidably carrying 'said unit, operating means for reciprocating said unit t'odetermine the positionment thereof in either of two positions, said operating means comprising a rocker member having dual camming facilities oppositely disposed thereon, cam follower means operably associated with said rocker member and said unit, a pair of interponents pivotally carried by said rocker member, a pair of operating fingers, and means controlled by certain of said keylevers for pivoting said interponents to determine the coaction between said interponents and said pair of fingers, whereby said rocker member is effective through said cam follower means to determine the positionment of said unit.

2. In a keyboard apparatus, a series of key levers, a shiftable unit, operating means for reciprocating said unit to determine the positionment thereof in either of two positions, said operating means comprising a rocker member having dual camming facilities oppositely disposed thereon, cam follower means operably associated with said rocker member and said unit, a pair of interponents pivotally carried by said rocker member, a pair of operating fingers, and means controlled by certain of said keylevers for pivoting said interponents to determine the coaction between said interponents and said pair of fingers, whereby said rocker member is effective through said cam follower means to determine the positionment of said unit.

3. In combination, a pair of keylevers, a shiftable unit, operating means for reciprocating said unit to determine the positionment thereof in either of two positions, said operating means comprising a rockable member having dual camming facilities oppositely disposed thereon, dual cam follower means operably associated with said rockable member and said unit, a pair of interponents pivotally carried by said rockable member, a pair of operating fingers, and means controlled by said pair of keylevers for pivoting said interponents to determine the coaction between said interponents and said pair of fingers, whereby said rockable member is effective through said cam follower means to determine the positionment of said unit.

4. In combination, a pair of keylevers, a shiftable unit, operating means for reciprocating said unit to determine the positionment thereof in either of two positions, said operating means comprising a rockable member having dual camming facilities oppositely disposed thereon, dual cam follower means, a link interconnecting said follower means and said unit, a pair of interponents pivotally carried by said rockable member, a pair of op- Mating fingers, and means controlled by said pair of keylevers for pivoting said interponents to; determine coaction between said interponents and said pair of fingers, whereby said rockable member is effective through said cam follower means and said link to deter-j mine'the positionment of said unit.

5. In combination, a pair of keylevers, a shiftable unit, operating means for reciprocating said unit to determine the positionment thereof in either of two positions, said operating means comprising a rockable member having dual camming facilities oppositely disposed thereon, dual cam follower means, a link interconnecting said follower means and said unit, a pair of-interponents pivotally carried by said rockable member, a shift control bar articulated to said pair of interponents, a pair of operating fingers, and means controlled by said keyleversfor actuating said control bar to selectively condition said interponents for operation by said pair of fingers, whereby said rockable member is effective through said cam follower means and said link, upon the operation of said fingers, to establish the positionment of said unit. j

6. In a keyboard apparatus, a'series .of keylevers, a a shiftable unit, operating means for reciprocating said unit to determine the positionment thereof in either of two positions, said operating means 'cor'nprising'a ,c'am shift member, cam follower means operably associated with said cam shift member and said unit, a pair of interponents carried by said cam shift member, a pair of operating fingers, and means controlled by certain of said keylevers for determining the coaction between said interponents and said pair of fingers, said last recited means comprising a pair of interponent-actuating facilities, each of said facilities cooperably related to one of said certain keylevers, whereby said cam member is effective through said cam follower means to determine the positionment of said unit.

7. In combination, a pair of keylevers, a shiftable unit, operating means for reciprocating said unit to determine the positionment thereof in either of two positions, said operating means comprising a rockable cam member, dual cam follower means, a link interconnecting said follower means and said unit, a pair of interponents carried by said cam member, a pair of operating fingers, and means controlled by said pair of keylevers for determining the coaction between said interponents and said pair of fingers, said last recited means comprising a pair of interponent-conditioning facilities, each of said facilities cooperably related to one of said certain keylevers, whereby said cam member is effective through said cam follower means to determine the positionment of said unit.

8. In combination, a pair of keylevers, a shiftable unit, operating means for reciprocating said unit to determine the positionment thereof in either of two positions, said operating means comprising a rockable cam member, dual cam follower means, a link interconnecting said follower means and said unit, a pair of interponents carried by said cam member, a shift control bar articulated to each of said pair of interponents, a pair of operating fingers, and means controlled by said keylevers for actuating said control bars selectively to condition said interponents for operation by said pair of fingers, whereby said cam member is effective through said cam follower means and said link, upon the operation of said fingers, to establish the positionment of said unit.

9. In combination, a pair of keylevers, a shiftable unit, operating means for reciprocating said unit to determine the positionment thereof in either of two positions, said operating means comprising a rockable cam member, dual cam follower means, a link interconnecting said follower means and said unit, a pair of operating fingers having a predetermined path of operation, a pair of interponents carried by said cam member, said interponents normally positioned out of the path of operation of said fingers, a shift control bar articulated to each of unease? said wa at interpenems and 'mea'fiseomrolledbye-aid 10.- In combination; a pair o'fkeylev'ers, ashiftableunit,

operating means for reciprocating said unit to determine .the positionment thereof in either of two positions, said operatingine'anscomprising a rockable cam member, dual cam fellower means; a link interconnecting said follower meansand saidunit, a pair of interponentscarried by said eam member, a shift c'ontrol bar articulated to leach :of'

said pair :of interponents, a pair :of operating fingers, means eontrolle'd by said "keyl'evers for actuating said control bars selectively :tocondition said interponents for operation b y sa'id :pair offingers,whereby saidcam mem beris' efiective throughsaid 'cami'ollower means and said,

link, upon theroperation :of said fingers, to establish the positionment :of said tunit, :and m'eansior preventing the simultaneous conditioning ofgsaidtinterponents for :oper'ai item. 7

all. In a keyboard" apparatus, a series of keyle ers; a

8' eiatedxwith'said roekable' member and mid unit, interponents pivotallycarri ed by said roeloable'member, aperitin'g fingers, and means controlled byieertain .of :said keyleversfor determining..lthe coaction between said :intete ponents and .said'ifing'ers, whereby said rockable member is .etfective' through said .cam follower means to determine the positionment of said unit. t

12.7 In a keyboard apparatus, a series of keylevem, shiftablemnit, operating means for determiningthe various positionmentsiof said unit, .said operating means comprising a carnshift member, cam follower means operably assoc'iatedwith said cam shift member and said unit, interponents :carried 'by said cam shift member, operating fingers, means individually associated with .certain of said keyleversand controlled therebyfor determining the eoaction between said interponents and said fingers, whereby said cam shift member is elfective through said cam follower means to determine the positionmentofsaid unit, and.;means for assuring the coactionbetween only one each ofsaid interponentsand operating .fingerssimultaneously.

'shiftable =unit, 'operatingmeans fordetermining thevarious 125 positionment'sof said unit, said operating means comprising a rocKablememberthaving dual 'camming facilities oppositely disposed, earn follower means operably asso- K a 'zReferences Citedin .the'file ofthis patent 1 UNITED 'STATES PATENTS 1,561,59 N .Kleinschmidt Dec.;29 ,'192.5 1,945,097 Thpmpson-et a1 Jan. 30, 1934 Larson June '25, 1935 t 

